Takata told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) it won't agree to a nationwide recall of millions of vehicles for driver-side air bags. The safety devices have been linked to four deaths in Honda vehicles.

Tactile and optical measurement techniques each have their strengths, and there are certainly measurement tasks that require only one of the two. But in many cases, because the two methods complement one another, the combination can yield better data than either alone. In some specialized cases a third technology, either laser or "white light," can be added. Read more.

According to regulators, recall records and automakers, Takata's plant in Ciudad Frontera, Mexico, produced defective airbags in 2001 and 2002 and again around 2012. Managers were said to be concerned that workers broke quality rules to up output.

The ReLock Vise from Toolex can save you time and money by drastically reducing set-up times and improving your accuracies. Jaws can be changed in seconds without sacrificing repeatability. Vise systems are available in 4", 6" & 8" sizes in two and eight station configurations. Hydraulics are also available. Our new line of Compact Vises are ideal for 5-axis machining applications. Visit our website at www.toolexvises.com for details.

Writing in the December issue of Manufacturing Engineering, Scott Walker, president of Mitsui Seiki USA Inc., says the optimum way to keep unplanned machine tool episodes to a minimum is to have well-made equipment.

"(W)e could see China become a leader in manufacturing quality because they are adapting faster and investing more in up-to-date technology, including modern ERP software," said Steve Winder of Epicor, commenting on the results of a recent study.

c-vision™ brings you the best of both worlds, combining the speed an accuracy of a video measurement system with the rugged capacity of an optical comparator to create the world's best shop-floor measuring tool.

c-vision's dual magnification and telecentric optics offer the convenience of a 3-inch field of view and the precision of digital-optical zoom, allowing you to measure both large parts and small features with ease. www.certifiedcomparator.com/c-vision.php

Maybe so. Organizations' definition of quality, actual quality processes, and use of quality measures to drive performance and culture are all closely tied to customers. And companies with a customer-centric culture tend to be more successful.

This year, SME, in conjunction with Machines Italia and the Italian Trade Agency, is conducting a survey concerning equipment manufacturers. As you are a seasoned industry professional, we would very much like to include your input. The survey will just take a few minutes to complete. Please be assured that all responses will be kept strictly confidential and used only in combination with answers from other respondents. In addition, US-based professionals will be automatically entered into a drawing to win one of two iPad minis! Click here to begin.